The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself
February 20th, 2008
The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself
Written by Skate Punk - Skate Shop
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How Skateboarding turned life around for man with autism
February 20th, 2008
Marco Melanson: Skateboard Articles
The Northern Light (Bathurst’s English weekly local-only newspaper), March 21, 2006Written by Skate Punk - Skate Shop
Skateboarding turned life around for man with autismMarco Melanson says skateboarding changed his life.
The 29-year-old Bathurst resident suffers from Autism and said the sport has allowed him to overcome some of the difficulties of the condition.
“I only discovered skateboarding two years ago but immediately turned into a big fan,” explained Melanson, a 1995 graduate of École Secondaire Népisiguit. “Skateboarding put an end to nine years of living all alone without any friends at all.”
The Autism Society of Canada describes Autism as a disorder characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming social relationships. Most researchers believe genetics play a role in the condition which occurs in about 1 in 200 people in Canada.
“I watched a tape of the 2002 X-Games (and) developed a passion for skateboarding,” said Melanson. “I started skateboarding in early 2004 and found (it) was the change that I had been needing for so many years.”
He soon became a regular at the Strict Union skateboard store on St.Peter Ave. and quickly found himself among friends.
“I remember Marco coming in and he was really into skateboarding,” said Justin Gastelum of Strict Union. “We got to know each other really fast. He comes in about three times a week just to hang out, and helps us with the customers and work. We hang out and watch movies and stuff. It’s fun.”
During an interview last week, Melanson greets a customer who drops by the store with a hearty hello and a firm hand shake. He also proudly shows off a skateboard trade magazine, called Slap, that recently published a letter he wrote. His story has also caught the attention of professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler.
“(Slap) had a readers’ survey,” explained Melanson. “I decided to fill it out by e-mail (because) it would not have been possible just by filling out the form (to) tell them I was autistic and that skateboarding put an end to nine years of living alone without any friends at all. The (magazine’s) editor wanted to know more so I wrote him again and a reduced version of that second letter was published.”
In the letter, Melanson explained that he always hated sports and had to be excused from phys-ed classes during his school years because he was weak physically.
“I found I’m regular footed, could push properly and learned to turn right away on my first try,” he wrote. “This is important because I do not have enough balance to do things like ride a bike so to find I can skateboard was very exciting.”
Melanson proudly shows off a recently acquired skateboard, endorsed by Ryan Sheckler of California. Melanson met the professional skateboarder during a promotional visit to Moncton last year and obviously made a lasting impression.
“He saw the article and recognized Marco and called the shop,” said Gastelum. “He said he was going to send Marco a complete skateboard and shoes and he wanted to know his shoe size.”
“He read it, decided to get me this complete skateboard with his autograph,” said an understandably thrilled Melanson. “This pair of shoes with an autograph on the box and a DVD (of him performing) with his autograph and two posters with his autograph.”
That package arrived for Melanson at Strict Union earlier this month.
“I assembled the board all by myself,” said Melanson proudly. “I wanted to train because I sent in my resume because I wanted to apply to work here.”
Melanson also composes classical music and uses the sport as a theme.
“Like Mozart classical,” he explained. “I compose to (computer) midi files.”
“He brought in two CD’s,” said Gastelum, who noted one was called Skateboarder’s Fantasy. “It’s really good. It’s all piano, it’s really nice.”
Melanson, who lives with his father, Jean-Paul Melanson, is anxious for the city’s new skateboard park to open on St.Anne Street in the spring.
“I think it is going to be good,” he concluded. “Skateboarding changed my life.”
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